LITERATURE SEARCH
A literature search is a systematic,
thorough search of all types of published literature to identify a breadth of
good quality references relevant to a specific topic, and is a fundamental
element of the methodology of any research project. The success of a research
project is dependent on a thorough review of the academic literature at the
outset - getting the literature search right will save hours of time in the
long run. Effective literature searching is a critical skill in its own right
and will prove valuable for any future information gathering activity whether
within or outside of academia.
In practice, books and journals are
the main source of information for most in-depth literature searches related to
an extended essay, dissertation or research project. However, depending on your
topic, many other sources will prove equally valuable such as newspaper
archives, images, primary data and conference proceedings.
There are several aims of this kind
of search:
·
To
review existing critical opinions or theories
·
To
identify current research findings
·
TO
identify potential research methods or models
·
to
enable comparison with your own research findings
Literature Search and Database
Services
Need For Literature Search
While the scientific and technical
literature has been growing exponentially, the amount of time that any user has
for reading this literature remains more or less the same. Clearly, no research
worker, unlike his predecessors who knew everything worthwhile in their field
of specialization, is able to keep abreast of the latest developments in his
field of specialization. To keep abreast of such developments he often needs
the help of information specialists. These developments, the knowledge of which
is so essential, get recorded in the literature devoted to the respective
subject disciplines. The vastness of this literature and the lack of time for
the user to look it up create a gap between him and the information he may find
useful, Literature search is the means to bridge this gap. Thus, the main
function of an information service facility is to bring together the user and
the information he needs.
There are many points to consider in
making an effective literature search. The first and foremost step is to
ascertain the purpose, scope, depth and precise field of enquiry. This may
entail a dialogue between the user and the information specialist. A quick
assessment of the nature and extent of the enquiry will show whether the search
is for specific factual information, mainly required by a technical worker, or
for a few select references, normally adequate for an administrator or a policy
maker, or for a comprehensive bibliographic search, which is usually the
requirement of a research worker. Once the parameters of a query are fully
understood, a proper search strategy should be chalked out. Haphazard searching
of literature will lead not only to wastage of time and money, but also to the
risk of missing a number of important documents. Much of the expertise in
literature searching lies in choosing the most appropriate sources to consult
with in each case and the order in which to consult them.
Selection of Sources
A good approach to literature search
is looking up a bibliography, an encyclopedia or a review publication. This
provides background information as also some useful references. After this preliminary
search is over, searches should be carried out with secondary publications like
abstracting and indexing services. Depending upon the topic, any one of the
following situations may arise
i) Secondary periodicals are
available on the subject.
ii) Secondary periodicals are
available on the subject as well as on the broader area encompassing it.
iii) No secondary periodical is
available on the subject, but available on the broader area.
iv) No secondary periodical is
available on the subject, or on the broader subject.
Search in Secondary Sources
When secondary periodicals are
available on the subject as well as on the broader subject,
The search must first begin with the
secondary periodical on the subject proper,supplemented by references collected
from the periodicals covering the broader subject.Usually, the secondary
periodicals covering broader subjects would cover peripheral journals and
sometimes quite alien to the main subject of search. But it is a well-known
fact that there is a considerable scatter of information on a given topic over
a whole range of periodicals covering core, peripheral and alien fields.
Although a few core journals cover a considerable part (50-60%) of the
published literature on a given topic, yet sizeable portion (30-40% or more)
can be covered by scanning a large number of peripheral journals in alien
fields (e.g., an article of medical interest, say malaria eradication, may be
published in a sociology journal).
Skills are to be developed for the
consultation of secondary periodicals, since a wide variation is observed in
the arrangement of the entries as well as in the methods of indexing, and also
the types of indexes provided. Usually, the indexing method used is explained
in the introduction to the index. Pertinent subject headings vary from one
secondary periodical to another. The searcher should acquaint himself not only
with the scientific nomenclature and terminology, but also with the popular and
trade names.
Search in
Other Sources
No search will be complete without a
look at other sources of information, specially for topics for which there are
no secondary periodicals available. Such other sources are conference
proceedings, research reports, theses, patents, standards and specifications,
trade literature and in some cases monographs and treatises. There may be cases
where information will be available from non-documentary sources like
institutions and experts.
Whatever may be the type of
information, sources may be needed to consult at sometime or the other. So,
some knowledge of the main characteristics of different sources is needed. As
mentioned earlier, much of the expertise in searching for information lies in
choosing the appropriate sources to consult in each case and the order in which
to consult them.
Recording Of References or Information
Every literature searcher develops
his own style of taking notes of references. While every effort should be made
to optimize the time and efficiency of search, it is good to remember that a
few extra seconds spent to make proper preliminary records may save many
frustrating hours later. The first principle in saving search time is to use a
single operation to serve multiple purposes. For example., references recorded
on sheets of paper can serve only one purpose - providing a list of references
without
any order. But records on cards or
slips, with one reference per card or slip, can serve several purposes.
Abstracts can be added under each reference, if required, and the cards can be
arranged by subject, author or chronologically, as may be required.
Presentation of Results
Proper presentation of search
results requires as much skill and care as in defining the subject and
parameters of search. Reading lists need only be selective and may require
brief . But a search on behalf of a researcher will need exhaustive treatment,
and may need slanted abstracts conforming to the user's need. The choice of
arrangement also depends on what the user needs - alphabetical (by author's
surname), chronological, source-wise (monographs, periodicals),
non-conventional (microfilms, audio visuals, etc.), classified, or some other
arrangement. The best arrangement is that which the user finds most helpful. An
indication should be given as to how complete the bibliography is. The sources
should be stated giving the exact references.
Skills in
Literature Search
Expertise in literature search can
be gained only by experience. Some attitudes or traits conducive to a good
literature search are: imagination, mental flexibility, thoroughness and
orderliness, persistence, judgment in resolving contradictory information and
accuracy in recording. A basic knowledge of the search is considered helpful
though not absolutely essential.
To conduct a literature search
manually, start by defining your research question. Then, explore library
catalogs, academic journals, and books relevant to your topic. Utilize
databases like PubMed, JSTOR, or Google Scholar for electronic searches.
Finally, complement your search with internet resources such as reputable
websites, blogs, and online publications to gather a comprehensive range of
information.
Figure
1.
Major
Steps in Literature Search Represented in
the Figure 1
Process
Literature
search
Manual
Books, newspapers, journals,
encyclopedias etc....
Databases
Google scholar
Inflibnet
STOR (digital library founded in
1995 in New York City-journal storage)
Science direct.
Reference style
There are a set of rules on how to
cite sources in academic writing.
Preferred by particular academic
disciplines because they work better with the kind of tens that are most
commonly used in that discipline
Different styles of referencing:
APA, MLA, Oxford, Harvard, Chicago
APA style referencing
Standardized by the American
Psychological Association.
Uses the author/date method of
citation in which the author's last name and the year of publication are
inserted in the text of the paper.
Use only the surname of the author
followed by a comma and the year of publication.
References must be listed in an
alphabetical order by author, and then chronologically.
MLA (modern language Association)
Developed by modern language
Association
Used in discipline in Humanities.
Uses the author-page number style
for in text citation
Consists of two parts: a brief
in-text citation in the body of the essay and a detailed list of the
"works cited".
Oxford style referencing
A superscript (raised) number in the
body of the text that refers to a footnote at the bottom of the page.
Footnotes provide the bibliographic
details of a source and are numbered consecutively throughout a paper or
chapter.
Do not use Latin abbreviations such
as ibid.and op.cit. in Oxford style.
Table 1
Advantage
and disadvantage
|
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
|
● Accessibility, ● Deeper understanding of your
chosen topic ● Identifying experts and current research
within that area, and answering key questions about current research
|
● not providing new information on
the subject ● Depending on the subject area, you may have
to include information that is out of date.
|
